Western intelligence officials believe Russia could launch a final assault on eastern Aleppo as early as this week.

A fleet of eight Russian warships, led by the aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, is currently south of Sardinia and sailing towards the eastern Mediterranean.

They are expected to arrive as early as Wednesday although other estimates predict that could slip to later in the week.

Video:Russian warships pass through English Channel

In recent days pilots on board have been practising taking off and landing on the carrier, slowing its progress slightly.

With a combination of Russian forces already based in Syria, the carrier fleet en route and a peace process all but over for now, intelligence assessments have joined the dots and concluded that Russia is preparing to bomb the Syrian rebels in a decisive campaign.

The choreography also coincides with the US election period, when the Washington political system becomes relatively ineffectual.

Video:War in Syria: Destruction of Aleppo

It is thought President Putin might take advantage of a window between the US elections on 8 November and 20 January when the new US President is sworn in.

During this time the current US administration will have little power to act.

Recently the Russian Ambassador to the US hinted that Aleppo would be destroyed like Grozny when he tweeted recent photographs of Grozny to John Kerry and Boris Johnson with the message "Grozny today is a peaceful, modern, and thriving city.

"Ain't that a solution we're all looking for @JohnKerry? @BorisJohnson? #Aleppo".

Last week the Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed reports as "absurd" that the Admiral Kuznetsov would be used to bomb Aleppo.